Ambitious plans to redevelop Nottingham Forest's iconic City Ground have been given the go-ahead - which could benefit Nottingham to the tune of over £800m. Forest will now be able to give their iconic home a significant facelift and transform the stadium into a world-class venue, increasing capacity to 35,000 at an estimated cost of more than £94m.
The club will be knocking down and rebuilding the Peter Taylor Stand, increasing it to a capacity of 10,000 seats, up from its current 5,000. The stand would be split between four floors and will be similar in height to the Trent End and Brian Clough Stand.
The plans were discussed and approved at a Rushcliffe Borough Council planning committee meeting at Rushcliffe Arena in West Bridgford on Thursday, July 28, with councillors voting nine votes to two in favour of the proposals. They were first announced three years ago back in 2019, but were put on hold due to complications in the planning process.
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Economic estimates suggest the redevelopment could pump £804 million into the city by 2034, as well as creating 360 full-time jobs. Demolition work is now set to start next summer, with the intention to complete the rebuilding by the end of the 2023/24 season. At the meeting, concerns were raised over already congested exit points for those heading to the north of the city via Trent Bridge and Lady Bay Bridge.
Local resident Michael Dybala told the meeting that a walk consisting of around 200 yards can take around 20 to 25 minutes to complete on matchdays. "It is one of the most unpleasant experiences [of matchday] from a health and safety point of view," he said.
The redevelopment would also incorporate a new public realm, car parking and associated works. The redeveloped stand will also act as a venue for conferences, other events and private hire. The club shop, meanwhile, will be demolished and moved within the new stand when it opens up to fans.
The hospitality suites and boxes would be available for conferencing, third-party hire and community use on non-match days - the largest of which would offer up to 1,200 capacity. Under the plans, however, the number of parking spaces around the ground would be reduced.
Previously, there have been planning issues with the proposed residential development next to the stadium. The report outlines a planning application for up to 170 residential units in a 13-storey apartment block.
As part of the plans, the nearby Boat Room, located on the banks of the River Trent and used by Nottingham Rowing Club, will be demolished. However, as an asset of community value, it will be replaced - the club was supportive of Nottingham Forest's redevelopment plans.
Councillor Maureen Stockwood, Vice-Chairman of the planning committee, said: "The Boat House is being demolished and I have looked at the plans and can understand the hesitancy of the applicant as to where they are going to put the new Boat House.
"It doesn't seem like there is any viable proposition nearby so it may have to jump the river. I would like to have had more details on that one as well."
Councillor Sarah Bailey, meanwhile, questioned why no affordable housing would be built as part of the plans. She said: "I have great reservations that 170 flats are to be built and not one affordable house or flat among them."
Concerns were also raised by Councillor Neil Clarke about extending existing parking permit schemes to Fox Road and Radcliffe Road under the plans. Some councillors were also unhappy about just £430,000 being offered by the club to go towards issues such as affordable housing and education, rather than £700,000 recommended in an independent report.
It is hoped that the construction process could create as many as 1,200 jobs, the majority of which would be given to local people.
Case Officer Andrew Ashcroft told the meeting: "The existing condition and state [of the Peter Taylor stand] is not up to the standard of the rest of the ground and current status of the football club, which reinforces further the need to upgrade the stadium."
Forest had previously contemplated building an entirely new stadium in 2007, but the idea to build a new ground in Gamston was scrapped. Director of Savills Chris Potts told councillors that plans were effectively put on hold after the Covid pandemic as the club, along with others across the country, instead focused on financial stability. "If we get your support today," he said. "There is a real prospect of delivering a key piece of sporting infrastructure."
The club's owner Evangelos Marinakis has reportedly already spent more than £2m directly related to the plans and has been committed to the project throughout. Completing the redevelopment is now expected to cost more than £94m, with the plans formulated even before Forest earned promotion back to the Premier League earlier this year.
As well as expanding and improving the City Ground, Forest aim to offer a sustainable and environmentally friendly travel plan for visitors to the stadium. Nottinghamshire Live were told by fans and local residents earlier this month that the plans represented an exciting time for not only the club, but the city.
Ben Dorks, CEO of Nottingham headquartered global software company Ideagen, said: “Nottingham is an ambitious city, home to globally successful businesses, two world-renowned universities and now a top-flight club in one of the most televised leagues in the world. The development of the City Ground will mean Forest will have a stadium that matches that ambition and I for one can’t wait to see it, sit in it and celebrate three points in it.”
Leader of Rushcliffe Borough Council Cllr Simon Robinson said: “Both sides have shown commitment to get the application through and do the very best for the club, the supporters and Rushcliffe itself.
“We appreciate Nottingham Forest is a very keen partner of the council. They bring a huge amount of business right across the Borough. We’re absolutely delighted that this application has now been passed and we look forward to working with them going forward.”
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